Trump vs. Clinton: Business school vs. law school

Debating head to head, Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump wasn't so much a contrast of competing ideologies as a vivid demonstration of differences in education. Trump famously went to Penn's Wharton School, one of the world's most prestigious business schools. Clinton was the valedictorian of her class at Wellesley, followed by Yale Law School -- arguably this country's best in that field.

Success in business school depends on doing some preparation -- mostly reading case studies -- but the real action takes place in freewheeling classroom discussions. The premium isn't so much on academic rigor as on the student's ability to wing it -- to react to situations rapidly, to act decisively, to demonstrate bold leadership. Successful business students aren't the deepest thinkers but they do excel at "read and react" -- assessing situations and moving quickly to resolution. Much of that shows up as brute force -- a sledgehammer works well in most cases.

Law school is almost the polar opposite. Law students wade through mountains of reading where the success of an argument depends, literally, on the placement of a comma or the use of a preposition. They are trained to approach situations with great academic rigor and to respond nimbly, deftly, creatively. It is the jaguar slinking silently through the forest, assessing the situation carefully before pouncing on its prey. The winner is the best prepared, but also the one who waits for his opportunity and then attacks without mercy. it is the scalpel used as a dagger.

And so it was for everyone to see in the first Trump vs. Clinton debate. During the first 30 minutes Trump fought valiantly to rein in his emotions and listen to his coaches -- don't bluster, don't make stuff up. But Clinton waited him out, knowing his fundamental nature was bound to surface sooner or later. It did, and she took full advantage. The final 60 minutes were textbook businessman vs. lawyer. In the business world the businessman has the advantage because the lawyer is often on his payroll. But in a political debate that advantage disappears and the lawyer is free to use all her weapons against the businessman.

For sure Trump's advisors will work to adjust his presentation style in time for the next debate, to be better prepared and more composed. Clinton, on the other hand, won't have to change very much at all -- she's fully armed and extremely dangerous.